Zach Williams: 5 Things to Know About the Christian Rock Artist Playing at CMA Country Christmas
The former Zach Williams & The Reformation band member grew up in Arkansas for most of his life. Learn more about the country music singer.
Zach Williams will be performing at this year’s CMA Country Christmas special. Since the Christian singer-songwriter keeps a low profile in the business, country music fans want to know more about him. Keep reading to find out more about Zach!
What Did Zach Williams Do for Work Before Music?
According to his 2021 interview with K Love, Zach dropped out of high school and worked for his father’s construction company in Arkansas upon earning his GED. The “Chain Breaker” artist was an avid athlete at the time, and multiple basketball college recruiters took an interest in him. Zach was then offered a scholarship to attend a nearby college.
Zach Williams Was a College Athlete
Although Zach enjoyed pursuing an arts degree and playing sports, he described how he fell into the party scene. “I found myself partying every day, trying to outdo all the guys I lived with or hung out with,” the award-winning artist revealed to the outlet. “Every day was just a competition to see who could party harder, and I carried that into my life for probably 13 years.”
Zach later tore five ligaments in his ankle before he played his first game in freshmen year, the Florida native told the website. However, upon learning how to play the guitar, Zach noted, he “fell in love with music.”
“I’d decided I wanted to be this rock star, but I thought to be a rock star, you had to live a certain lifestyle,” Zach admitted. “I kind of took on this persona and thought, ‘Man, if I’m going to do it, I’m going to do it 110 percent.’” As a result of wanting to embrace a “reckless lifestyle,” Zach explained that he hit a wall in his career.
But after discovering his love for Christian music, Zach redeemed himself and focused on how to pursue his dreams. “I had grown up listening to Christian music because my dad played it on his job site every day,” the “Fear Is a Liar” artist noted. “The song just stopped me dead in my tracks. When I got to my hotel room, I looked that song up, and I listened to it over and over. Then, I called my wife, and I said, ‘I’m done. I’m done playing music. I’m coming home. We’re going to find a church, and I’m going to get my life together.’”
Zach Williams Is Married
Zach opened up about his wife, Crystal Williams, during his 2021 interview. In 2012, he “hit rock bottom,” K Love noted, referring to the moment when Zach woke up in his European hotel room while on tour with his band, Zach Williams & The Reformation. Crystal and Zach were expecting their daughter at the time, whose name they haven’t disclosed.
Crystal has, however, attended events with her husband, including the 2020 Grammy Awards.
Zach Williams Won a Grammy Award
While the “Old Church Choir” singer has maintained a low-key lifestyle throughout his music career, he made headlines in 2021 when he won a Grammy Award with Dolly Parton for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song for their song, “There Was Jesus.”
Zach Williams Has Children
During his 2021 interview, Zach revealed that he and his wife had a daughter and that Crystal also had two children from a previous relationship. Since the couple seemingly want to maintain a private personal life, Zach has not included many photos of his family on his social media accounts.